Tiie Steam Plow . Editor of the Farmer : —I have seen the veritable steam plow . I have seen it at work ; plowing up six furrows at a time of strong blue grass sod ; turning about as readily as a team of two yoke of cattle . I certainl y admired the results of the genius of man . He had even made fire and water do the work of the ox and the horse ; and he had shown tho ability of increasing power to any extent required . I went home , Mr . Editor , and did a good deal of thinking while my horse plodded his weary way through the mud . The improvements of the ago are wonderful . It is scarcely sate for any man to say where these shall have their limit . I have seen much and heard much of tbe project of steam plows . I now believe thesteam plow will succeed . It can be made to break up our prairies . It can do a vast deal of work when the machine is perfected and when all circumstances , water , fuel , suitable condition ot the soil , favor the work . Twenty acres a day can be plowed b...

Best Ground for Orchards . Editor of the Farmer : —I notice an inquiry by M . in the November number of the FARMER respecting the proper soil for an orchard . He says : On my farm I have black loam , some a little inclined to sand , and some barrens in which there is a large intermixture of clay . The black soil is level prairie , sandy on ridges , the barrens on . hig h , land . It is difficult to tell which of these soils would be best for an orchard without seeing them . In this section I should prefer the high barrens , providing it isofagood corn soil . Barrens that are high and little rolling are the best for an orchard . The fruit , crop is more certain on high land than low . Black prairie soil is good for orchard if it is sufficiently dry at all seasons of the year ; trees on such soil will grow more vigorously and not fruit so young its those on barren land . Our own orchard is in the edge of the barrens , and is the . admiration of all that see it . The oldest part , 200 ...

The Physical Training of GIils . It is a matter of enmmon observation that English women belonging to tho higher classes , unite with their mettai accomplish merits a far greater -robustness and strength of physical constitution than are opually found in the females of this country , and all are rendy to admit lbnt the human form , in classic an * tiqnity , fur exceeded in the perfection of symmetry and vigor the ordinary development of the pre * pnt dny . The race that gave to the world a Venus nnd an Apollo is still regarded : OR furnishing the best examples of physical , strength and beauty ; and perhaps those who are familiar with ihe social customs of the ancient world will concede thnt thi ? perfection was the result of the systematic training and exercise of the body , then made an essential part of education . In the ages of chivalry , too , when a man held it a greater honor to exeel in feats of arms than in scholarship , we read oF wonderful Achievements of physical streng...

From ihe Illinois Journal , Dec . 1 . The Hog Business . During the last wt-ek the hog business has been prosecuted in this place with considerable activity . . The weather , however , has , been unfavorable a great , part of the time , being almost too mild for f-iife operations , while the rain and the impassable condition of the roads have been a serious drawback to business . II . Jncoby reports that he has up to this date packed 11 , 000 hogs and has now 1 , 000 in the penB , with 4 , 000 contracted for and yet to ar « rtre . ¦ J . L . Lamb reports thnt he has packed 10 ,- 000 with two thousand now in the pcnB , and 4 , 000 to arrive . The price for good hogs remains at $ 5 @ 5 ,- 50 net , dividing on 200 puundsv The St . Loui * Democrat of yesterday , » ays : 1 lie weather is too warm for packing , and few only are offering . Only one slaughter house going to « day . Holders » Te firm at 6 ir ( 3 j 6 $ c , and buyers offer 6 @ 6 | c , dividing on-200 H &amp;gt; s . — A few...

Tree Peddling . Editor of the Farmer : —Xo sooner is the spring planting of trees and shrubbery finished , than the whole country is alive with the professed agents of foreign nurseries , who make it their business to visit almost every family in the country , and wheedle them into the purchase of nursery articles , or to sign orders for them . These pedlars succeed in inducing a vast number to give them orders . The orders are filled and tho trees , &amp;amp; c , come in the fall . There can now been seen at most of the railroad stations piles of Rochester trees . The knowing oues , will not purchase ; but those who have not much experience of tho ways of tree pedlars , will . . — - We have law to protect merchants against the competition of pedlars who would trade about the country , and because they do not have to pay rents here , or taxes on their stock , or support their families , can sell goods cheaper than regular merchants , and carry them to the people s doors . The sa...

The Chrysanthemum , Editor Farmer : —I have been often surprised that no more attention has been paid to the cultivation of this plant . The flowers now embrace all colors , perfectly double , and very numerous . Their propagation is very easy . Take up the plant very early in the spring , aud separate it so as to have one bud on a a root and plant thein out in the garden about ten inches apart . They will grow and make fine plants before fall , and if you wish them to flower late in the garden , and make a gorgeous show when the leaves are falling from the trees , and the general appearance of the garden is desolate , you have onlytoplant them out in some warm sunnv border . Tn have plants for the parlor , the single root may be set out in a pot , and that pot set into the ground for summer growing . By seeing that tbe plant has sufficient water , pinching it back so as to make a good shaped plant , you will have beautiful pots of flowers in the fall months . There is danger when y...

Agricultural Colleges . The Pennsylvania and Michigan colleges are now in successful operation . The walls of the Maryland college are now being put up . A meeting to take measures for establishing an Agricultural College in Missouri , was lately held in St . Joseph . Measures are in progress to establish a college of the same character in Iowa . •»» 8 ®» Wo have received a few parcels of Polish wheat ( sometimes called Grant R ye ) for distribution . The grain is very large and flue , and we desire to put the wheat into the hands of men who will give it an effectual trial . « •» - THE C . A . &amp;amp; ST . L . RAILROAD . —The public are generally aware that ae effort was being made in the TJ . S . Court at Chicago , to take above road out of the hands of Gov . Matteson , on the alleged ground that he had misapplied the funds . The evidence to the contrary was overwhelming ; and the case abandoned . Gov . Matteson s friends anticipated the result .

The State Agricultural Society . We received the following communication just as our paper was going to press : Ilnving in view the interests of the people of the State , whose chief pursuits are agricultural , and with the wish to aid nnd extend the great and important benefits which have been rendered by the efforts of the State Agricultural Society by their Fairs and publications , and by exciting the interests and competition of our producers and stock-breeders , as well as draw * ing forth from the minds and pens of many intelligent citizens , valuable essays and addresses on subjects intimately connected with the objects of its endeavors . Acknowledging all these , we present herewith apian which , if adopted by the State Society , and assisted and fostered by the representatives of the people , must , in our opinion , tend greatly to increase the efficiency , benefits and usefulness of tbe Suciety , and promote the interests of the great source of our wealth and power , which...

N « vel Reading . As novels will form some part of our reading , and not a little of that of the young , we will dwell upon them in some brief notices . That any person should take up a well selected novel under the impression that tHey are infringing upon any religiousObligation , should bo dismissed from their minds . . If we have spare time for reading , and we should have , these works of imagination ., may take their place with others in training and improving us . That a majority of these publications are not good , that youth , of both , sexes read them to their injury , we know , butthis should , not deter us from accepting those that are , good , some of which that have . obtained a good verdict we will mention ., Walter Scott stands by universal consent at . the head of this class of writers , and will probably retain the position , as we think no age can return when one man s thoughts in an inferior field of literature can make such an indelible mark . The influence of hi...

Contents of December Number , Editor Farmer : —As you have given my review of the articles in the FARMER , for November , I will again try my hand , with those of the last month . Ideas of Progress , is a good article . We arc going ahead in almost every pursuit , and especially in that of farming . That man who makes no progress in his calling , will be far behind his neighbors in a few years to come . Our business here is to improve in mind , in morals , in manners , in the knowlecge of our profession . Go ahead in everything that is rig ht ! —thats tho word . Wc have a long letter from Washington Territory . Where is that ? It lays on the shore of the Pacific , stretches from latitude 45 ° to 49 ° and runs back the whole width to the Rocky Mountains . The Cascade Mountains come down within 150 miles of the coast—all West invite settlements—all East is a mountainous , gravelly , sterile country , with few exceptions . Washington Territory will be settled . There is good land there...

Feeding Stock in Winter . Samuel Hale , of Medina county , Ohio gives the following account of some experiments in feeding his stock in winter . Practical experiments of this kind are of more value to the farmer than theories . Mr . Halo says : For several years I fed my coru in the ear , and with stabling and the best of care , could add but little to the weight of my cattle during the winter , and I had nearl y given up feeding cattle , as I found that I could not make it pay . But three years ago I fell in with a Little Giant Stock Mill , and liked its operation , procured one and set it to work —and , during the first winter , I ground and fed some twelve hundred bushels of ears of corn to my horses , cuttle and sheep , and never wintered the game as well and as cheap as 1 did that winter . The next winter I commenced again in a small way to stall feed , the result of which fully satisfied me that two busheli ground with the cob , was worth more three fed without grinding , to a...

Sorgho as food for Stock . Editor Farmer : —Among the uses that can be made of the Sorgho is food for stock . Cattle cat tho blades readily and the stalks until their mouths become sore . To feed the stalks out to them , therefore , they should be cut into small p ieces with the straw cutter , when they will be eaten up clean and will be as valuable food to them as corn . Hogs will at all times live on the stalks ; and will fatten on them . The seed of the cane , which will amount to some forty bushels an acre , is as good for hogs as corn . This is experience . Cattle will be poisoned by eating cane seed just as much as they will be with corn . I have seen a good deal in the newspapers about feeding cane and the seed to stock , and ^ I thought I would add my little experience in the matter . November 20 . * M . NOTE . —We add to the above an extract from a communication published in the Georgia Uhronicle : This is my third season of cultivating the Chinese cane . I have seven acres...

The Dairy . Editor of the Farmer : —Farmers complain that their crops are not good and that they . are not able to pay their debts . This is the complaint of many . Some , however , who purchase only what they can pay for , seem to be getting along about as well as in former years . The trouble is that too many live on anticipated crops—live a year ahead of their income ; and when this income fails , of course they are in a bad way . But I am not about to lecture on domes tie economy . These lectures have been common enough within the two last years—our own experience the lecturers . What I propose to say is , that there are some employments which our farmers would , find reasonably profitable , if they would engage in them . One of them is the Dairy business . We certainly have a g 68 d country for stock . We can have the best pastures . We can have green crops , to feed our Cows in August and September , if pastures fails . —• Wo can have good meadows , from which to secure hay fo...

Wines , Editor Farmer : —A few day ago I saw the paragraph copied below in a newspaper . I out itout for publication in the FAKMEE . I thought that the account of the wines usually sold at the shops , and the manner in which they are compounded , would be interesting to your readers . You could see wbatstuffis sometimes used for sacramental purposes ; but oftener by well persons , as a stimulating and healthful drink , and by the sick in their weakness . A pure article of wine is not very injurious drink in reasonable quantities . Indeed , I think in many cases it is useful . So our physicians say , and they ought to know . Now , there are many vegetables which can be employed to make a healthful wine . That made from our native grapes ; from currants ; and from other fruit ; is very harmless—unless enough sugar is added to give it strong intoxicating qualities . Even some of our domestic wines , hailing from Cincinnati , are said to be imitations and counterfeited . Hence , if our ...

licdeinjr . Editor of the Farmer : —I have tared out this winter another half mile of Hedge . It is now on . its fifth year . I am . so well pleased with my own experience that I intend to plant a hedge around the remainder ofmy farm the next spring . A little expeaience in raising hedges will show that a good hedge-can be made in four years . The idea that you must make a broad base for your hedge , is folly , I think . My hedge was planted , out four years ago last spring—the plants were placed from five to six inches apart—the second spring , I cut them off well down to the ground—the next spring , I cut them off six inches from the ground—last I again cut them off twelve inches from the ground—this fall I slashed down the tops and let them lay over each side of the hedge and took up -the fence that protected it—and not an animal has gone through it . I saw abull make the attempt three times . He went up deliberately and put his head into it . The insinuating thorns went into his...